> Silent Ponyville: Homecoming > by Pen Quill > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Prologue > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- A Brief History of Ponyville This story is of its own style, it in no way has any connection to other stories of similar title. Do not confuse this for another story. Long ago, when the now great town of Ponyville was founded, everything was of peace and harmony. For generations the town was happy, not a threat in the world, well besides the constant attacks by Discord or Chrysalis. In this town lived a simple violet mare, whose name was known to be Twilight Sparkle. She had ventured in this town with her five friends, teaching the town and quite possible the world of the magic of friendship. She loved her friends, but more adored her big brother Shining Armor, an enlisted stallion in Celestia’s royal guard. As long as they’ve grown up, she has always looked up to him. However, when he left to go on tour in Saddle Arabia, the town had changed. It was thought to be of just an old pony’s tale, of a grim dark history of the town of Ponyville. The tale of how the town is cursed. When the town was first founded, there was a strange visitor, a young filly who wore a shroud over her head, blocking any view of her face. The town was weary of their mysterious visitor. “She’s a witch!” shouted the townsponies, as they casted their glares and rotten vegetables at her. She paid them no mind and went on with her business. She was just looking through different stalls and shops, but each one she visited, yielded no results. The vendors ignored her, shop owners locked their doors and shunned her from their venues. The story goes, that the innocent filly had stayed no more than two days, living out in the Everfree forest. However, one night, a small colt had mysteriously vanished in to the woods. The mares and stallions quickly threw the witch to blame. “We must put her to death for her crime!” they screamed as they rustled up their torches and pitchforks. “She must be condemned and burned at the stake!” shouted another, which caused another frenzy amongst the crowd, only fueling their anger even more. The mob marched in the forest until they had found a small hut, only fit for one resident. “Look, there she is.” Whispered a stallion in front. “Possibly cooking that poor colt for her stew.” Whimpered another. “We must make her pay.” “And pay she will, with her life.” The mob marched on, surrounding the house. “Come out now you foul heathen!” shouted the town sheriff. “Come out and face your fate with what little dignity you have left!” The door slowly opened with a bone chilling creek. The light inside grew dim as a shadow appeared from the door. A cold wind whipped through the air, the torches blew out and the light from the house, no more. “What is all fuss about, can’t a young mare just enjoy her meal without being casted out as some monster!” a voice bellowed from the door. “Get her, get the witch!” said a charging stallion, but before his pitchfork could impale the being before him, a magic wall had formed around, repelling the stampeding stallion as he flew back. The lights to the house suddenly started to grow again, shining just enough for visible sight. The young mare before them had a mane like snow and eyes to match. Her body however, was pale and sickly. A cutiemark of a strange triangular mask or helmet that was splattered with blood and covered in rust. The mob was frightened to a perfect standstill, not a move was made. “Are you all just going to stand there or can I return to my meal in peace?” she said. “You will not feast on another pony beast! You shall pay for your crimes and burn in Hell where you belong!” Several earth ponies had grabbed lassos and swung them around, throwing them out towards the witch. Before she could react, her hooves were tied and her horn repelled by the town’s strongest unicorn. “Let go of me this instant, I never kidnapped anypony!” she screamed. “You’re lies won’t affect us bitch! You know what you have done and you shall burn for it.” Said a guard. “Search my hut then, you will find no evidence of such a crime!” “You have no freedom in these parts witch, so accept you’re fate.” The journey back was quiet and still. The cold air was thick and made it hard to breathe. Not a cloud in sight as the night sky loomed over the town, the only light now being that of the moon along with symbolic Mare in the Moon. The witch, casted into her cell, shackled with iron clads that blocked her magic. She did not weep or give any sign of sadness. She only looked at many bones of ponies who spent their last days in these cells. The damp stench of death filled her nostrils. Many of these remains were other accused witches who had passed through this town. The next morning she was released from her cell and escorted to the town square and bound to a stake. “You have been found guilty by a unanimous decision of witchcraft, fillynapping, and murder and have been sentenced to death. Before we light you ablaze and cast you to the fiery pits of Hell, do you have any last words?” said the town priest. “You’re descendants shall rue the day, for this town will be cursed for their sins. I did nothing wrong yet you condemn me when you all have committed the same acts of murder and debauchery. May the Goddesses have mercy on your families and kin, for when I die, this town will be forever cursed to a world of damnation.” “Neigh, may the Goddesses have mercy on your soul, and those of your despicable kind.” The priest gave a nod to the executioner who brought the torch to the pit with a simple touch, she was in flames. The sounds of agony and pain filled the air, as the accused witch was burned. Her flesh turning to black and charred to the bone. Her flesh slowly melting away. The most peculiar cutiemark on her flank, had slowly vanished from sight and thus the screaming had stopped. The mare who was demonized, was dead, and the town moved into a state of grief, mourning the loss of a family’s colt, bringing an end to a tragic chapter for the town and ushering in a new one. Months had passed and town was as it was, moving on with their lives, a smile on their face. Combustion had just been discovered and an increased need for coal was to follow. The town of Ponyville flourished with their coal mine. However, one day changed their lives forever. An explosion roared from beneath the ground, rattling every home in Ponyville. From the entrance of the mine, several miners had evacuated and a geyser of scorching fire erupted from within. The entrance had collapsed, making reentry impossible for anyone. Several dozen workers perished in the explosion, and one faithful doctor had no one to blame, but an old curse from a certain witch. No pony believed him. Days passed and there was a ruckus at the doctor’s house. He was found pinned to his wall, his barrel stripped from his body and a pool of blood on his floor. His eyes gouged from his eyed, but no leads to who could’ve committed such a gruesome murder. On his wall, written in his own blood was a message: You shall pay for your sins with every drop of blood. Authorities investigated the strange murder, but could not find any clues. The search was given up, and town was in a state of panic. Over the years, more strange deaths had occurred, each with the same message and the victim mutilated to almost no recognition. As the years went on, the deaths became less and less significant, leaving the town with one question, what did they ever do to deserve this? Some believe in the curse, some still pass it off some old tale to scare fillies and colts. One fact remains, the town, was no longer the happy destination it used to be. Welcome to Silent Ponyville > Homecoming > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 1 He was plagued by nightmares. Scenes he wish he could forget. Passing them off as affects from war. All he wanted to do was forget about his time in Saddle Arabia. He just wanted to, for once, have a moment in his life where he wasn’t reminded of the things he saw over there. Shining Armor had just finished his last year of his contract. He was now a free stallion. He no longer had to serve the Royal Guard. However, he still found himself still there due to the fact that whenever he slept he had dark dreams of ponies dying, and small fillies and colts screaming. The only thing that he thought would clear his mind was a trip to see his baby sister, Twilight Sparkle. He hadn’t seen her since she became a princess, and all he wanted to do was stay with her a few days and listen to her wild adventures she had with her friends while he was away. Twilight could always make him laugh. Many times he would think back to the stories she would tell him and even laugh then, without her even being around. This time was different though, he needed to be with her. “Tomorrow,” he said, “tomorrow I leave. Just one more night Shining, and you’ll be with your sister. You can do it.” He said before laying his weary head on his pillow. He jolted awake screaming, his horn glowing fiercely as his magic grabbed a blunt object from the corner of his room. “Just another nightmare…” he said, panting through his words. He took to sleeping in a different room, so that his screams wouldn’t wake his wife Cadence, and though she protested, wishing she could help him, Shining Armor wouldn’t have his problems become hers too, he was too stubborn. Putting the club back in the corner, he went back to sleep. Celestia’s light began to shine through the windows of the crystal spire as Shining Armor weakly rose from his bed, nearly collapsing from the lack of sleep. After leaving his room he was greeted by a worried wife, “Another sleepless night?” Cadence asked. “Yeah…” “Same dream?” Shining nodded, slowly making his way down the hall to the kitchen for his breakfast. “The image is getting clearer everyday though. I know this sounds crazy, but” Shining paused and looked at the ceiling, “I keep seeing Ponyville, with these things beckoning me. Then like every time, this bloody pony with that helmet shows up and just as I’m about to be hacked to bits, I wake up.” He said as he grabbed his plate with his horns magic. “Well, going to see Twilight will do you some good. That’s what you need honey, a vacation. You’ve done Equestria a great service, you deserve some leisure time.” Cadence said, nuzzling her cheek against his. Shining Armor mustered the best smile he could as he went on to eating his breakfast, silently staring into his coffee as his mind drifted elsewhere. He saw more visions of Ponyville, more shadows calling him back as he began packing his bags. He heaved a hefty sigh as he gazed out the window at the Crystal Empire, trying his best to ignore the visions. A guard entered his room, snapping him back to reality, “Sir, your train has arrived.” Said the guard. “Thank you captain.” Shining replied. “Will you need assistance with your bags sir?” “No captain, I can handle it myself.” “As you wish sir.” The door shut as the guard left, leaving Shining Armor alone again in his chamber. Another sigh left his lips as he turned and left for the door. A sharp siren rang throughout the halls, piercing into his ears causing him to buckle and grit his teeth. Shining Armor looked around him and saw not one soul in the halls. Something was wrong. An attack? No. This was not a siren of the Crystal Empire. This was something he never heard before. He looked around once more, the air was getting thick and the halls seemed to go dark. The high pitched sound of the siren began to die down a bit, letting Shining gain his composure as he began wandering aimlessly through the halls. As he turned the corner, the walls began to crack and almost rip apart like it was made of cloth, leaving behind metal chains. This was not his castle anymore that much he knew. This place was dark and foreboding. It had an evil presence to it and a sharp stench of death. He pushed on through the now changed halls. The area felt hot now. Shining was nearly gasping for air as he found breathing growing more and more difficult. SCREEEECCHHHH!!!! He looked up, his senses now heightened from the nerve rattling sound. SCREEEECCHHHH!!!! THUD! It was coming from down the hall, the sound of metal scraping against metal, followed by a pounding noise. His eyes went wide as he waited for whatever was around the corner to show its face. “Ahhh!” Shining jumped back in shock as he felt something crawl across his foreleg. He looked closer to see some kind of bug. Not just a bug, but several bugs, all coming from that corner where the noise was coming from. SCREEEECCHHHH!!!! THUD! It sounded again, but closer than before. Shining Armor froze in fear. He saw the shadow of the thing that was causing the noises. What he saw couldn’t have been real. “This has to be a dream…” Shining said under his breath as the deformed shadow came closer and closer. “This…has to be…a dream…” He stepped back, the form was now coming into sight. A long pointed tip of a helmet came into view. SCREEEECCHHHH!!!! THUD! With another step, the body of a pony came into view. Its tan coat, splattered and stained with blood followed with a long rusted blade. With each step the figure made it drug the blade across the floor, making an ear piercing screech, until finally it came to a stop. Shining Armor froze up again, staring at this familiar figure with a pyramid shaped helmet. “It can’t be,” he whispered under his breath, “it just can’t be…” The tall pony turned its body to face in Shining Armor’s direction. Even though he couldn’t see through the helmet of the grotesque figure, he knew he was staring into the eyes of his death. Shining couldn’t move, his body was locked up in fear. He was standing, face to face, with a being he saw in his dreams. The figure took a hard step forward, followed by another as the blade scraped against the floor once more. Shining tried to move his legs, but they wouldn’t budge, his body was not listening to him. The figure drew closer to Shining Armor, and like a switch, his survival instincts clicked. His back legs shuffled backwards with each step the figure made. A shuffle turned into full steps, and eventually Shining Armor turned and bolted down the hall to the stair case and down the steps. He didn’t dare look back, the fear completely took over his body, forcing him to continue moving forward. “Whoa!” Shining stumbled as he came to a complete stop at an edge where the staircase had ended. SCREEEECCHHHH!!!! THUD! “You’ve got to be shitting me!” he cursed as the sounds of his pursuer started up again. Shining Armor looked left and galloped down another corridor, finding a closet to hide in. He sat there, waiting. Listening. SCREEEECCHHHH!!!! THUD! SCREEEECCHHHH!!!! THUD! The sounds grew louder and louder, he could feel the vibrations of the pony’s hooves stomping on the ground. He knew the figure was coming closer, but then it grew quiet. Too quiet. Too scared to even open the door, Shining Armor sat as still as he possibly could. CRACK!!! The giant sword the figure was wielding came slicing through the door, causing Shining Armor the scream in terror, then…everything went black. Shining Armor jolted awake on his seat, his heart racing as his head began doing 360’s around the area checking where he was. He was on the train to Ponyville. “Just another dream? But it felt so real…” he sighed and looked out the window, his eyes fixed on the small town of Ponyville quickly approaching. “Next stop Ponyville, all passengers departing have your bags ready!” shouted the conductor as he made his rounds through all the cabins of the train. The train came to a stop. Shining Armor, with his saddlebags secure, opened the door and took his fist steps onto the platform. Not too far away was his sister Twilight, eagerly awaiting his arrival. “Big brother!” Twilight yelped as she jumped onto his back, causing him to fall to the ground as they shared a small laughter. “Twili! I’ve missed you so much.” He said, slowly getting back on his hooves as Twilight hopped off. “How are the new wings treating ya?” “Still getting used to them, but I’ve been getting better thanks to Rainbow Dash.” “That’s good to hear Twili.” The two siblings shared in another long hug before making their way off the platform of the train station. When Shining Armor saw Ponyville, he paused. The visions had grown stronger and his thoughts trailed off to his dreams. “Shining?” Twilight asked, nudging him with her hoof. “Hm?” “You ok?” “Oh yeah, just a little stiff from the train ride. Let’s hurry back to your library, I could use a nap.” “Ok big bro.” Welcome home Shining Armor, let the story…begin. > Pony Tales and Nightmares > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 2 “Man, this place has changed a lot since I left.” Shining Armor was looking all over, looking at what felt like a foreign town to him. It had been two years since he last visited, and everything seemed so new to him, except Twilight’s library. “You’ve certainly gotten taller since I last saw you sis.” He looked at her up and down, and she had definitely grown taller. He supposed she was just growing up from the alicorn in her, and it saddened him to think that his own sister would be as tall as him some day. “You think so? I mean, I have noticed that I’ve had to look down at some ponies.” “It’s all good though, makes you look more regal, like a real princess.” He chuckled softly as she pushed him playfully. Twilight still didn’t like being thought of as this regal royal type. Something’s just never change. Walking into the library, he was greeted by a lonely looking bed in the guest room that was calling his name, and in a flash he dropped his bags and quickly rushed over to flop down on it. “Oh sweet Celestia Twily, you know how to prep a bed for your dear brother.” “It’s no crystal palace bedchamber I know, but I try my best for my B.B.B.F.F.” she giggled softly, watching her brother roll around in the sheets, getting comfy. “Remind me again Shining, how old are you?” she scoffed. “Old enough to know I’m still the big brother and you’re still a squirt.” “And yet I don’t play around in my bed like some foal.” She let out another giggle and went around the library to do her usual studying. “When you wake up, I’ll make you a nice meal.” He just let out a powerful yawn as he mumbled off into his sleep, “That…would…mmm…be just…fine…” ~~~~~~ Steam billowed from cracks in a rusty pipe as Shining shot up from his slumber. He looked all around, panicking and clueless of his whereabouts. “Shining….” A disembodied voice rang through his ears causing him to jump in fear as goosebumps formed along his hooves. Chills run up his spine as he looked around in what he figured was the steel rafters of a foundry. Another burst of steam came from the pipes above and Shining felt incredibly uncomfortable as he began taking steps back, trying to figure out where he was. “Is this another dream? It feels so real though.” He clopped around the steel-wired walk way, getting his bearings straight as he climbed up and down stairs. “Shining…” another disembodied voice rang out as a cold gush of wind whipped around his legs, sending him skittering up another flight of stairs and towards a dark corridor. “Where the Hell am I supposed to go now?” he cursed into the air. He looked down one hallway, and then down the other. Nothing visible down each as he contemplated which way to go. “Acksluph…” a deep gurgling was heard behind him as he quickly whipped around to see pure horror as his white coat turned pale. When he turned around, standing before him was a pony in a tattered hazmad suit. His right foreleg, burned as a chunk of flesh was missing, leaving nothing but bone there. The facemask was cracked as an eerie black smoke oozed from the cracks. This “pony”, if you could even call it a pony anymore, was slowly limping its way towards shining. The sight of this blood spattered suit was enough to lock him in place as he froze in fear. Shining Armor knew not what to do but stand in place and watch this thing slowly inch closer to him. “W-what are you? What are you?!” he screamed as his body began moving on its own, bolting him down towards the right hallway. He did not dare to even look back to see if that thing was following, the fear of what was happening kept him moving as he just kept running, and running, and running. He couldn’t stop running, nothing did stop him. The hallway seemed to go on forever. “Shining Armor!” a loud voice boomed through his head as his legs stopped moving. He looked around to see he was still in that evil place, but he didn’t feel fear, he felt peace. He felt something protecting him, not a shield or spell, but a presence. A presence he knew all too well, all too familiar in the dream world. “Princess Luna?” he called out into the dark hallway. “I am here my child.” A bright light flashed in front of Shining as Luna stepped towards him. “Shining Armor, I am sure you have realized it by now, but you are dreaming.” “This is all another dream?” She simply nodded with a grim look on her face as she stepped closer to embrace the shaken stallion, “I have watched you have these dreams for weeks now. A dark presence has plagued your thoughts and your heart. A presence I am afraid I cannot mend.” “Princess, what do you mean? Where am I? Why do I keep having these dreams?” he was panicking as he began hyperventilating. Luna looked upon him with fear and sorrow as he raised a hoof to him trying her best to calm him. Her touch was soothing to him as his nerves settled, her presence was almost motherly. “You have committed a grave act my dear Shining, and this is what it has brought upon you. This is the dream of a guilty conscience. The nightmares you see are influenced by a curse. A curse I am afraid you reawakened.” Shining felt fear rising up in him again as Luna turned and moved to the side to reveal a familiar sight. A tall tan pony with a large pyramid shaped helmet, wielding a large blade with a blood red magic. The being before just stood there, a good 200 feet from where he was. Shining turned around and was about to make a run for it, only to see a wall appear, blocking his only escape. “Princess Luna, please help me! Wake me up! Please!” he begged at her feet and looked up to see Luna only staring sorrowfully at him, shaking her head and denying his request. Tears began to well up in his eyes as he looked back at the pony who was now slowly making his way towards him with heavy hoof stomps. THUD….THUD….THUD “I cannot help you Shining Armor. Even if I wanted to, I cannot. The magic of these dreams are too complex, too powerful for me to break. You must face your guilt,” her voice began to fade as her body slowly disappeared into a midnight mist, “or perish.” “Luna no! Please no! Don’t leave me here!” he screamed at the top of his lungs, begging her to come back. THUD….THUD…..THUD The blade wielding pony was getting closer as a low disgruntled growl emitted from it. Its coat, spattered in blood as the rusty blade dragged across the floor creating a loud screech as sparks flew from the floor. Shining Armor felt a feeling of dread and evil coming from it, only getting stronger and stronger as it came closer. The presence was suffocating to Shining, he felt incredible weight being forced upon him from an invisible force. SCREEEECH, THUD…..SCREEEEECH, THUD…. 125 feet. 100 feet. 80 feet. The thing was closer, Shining could smell the scent of blood coming from the stained coat of his pursuer. He had nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. He was truly alone in this hallway, face-to-face with what was surely his executioner. The mysterious pony was now standing over him, the blade on the ground, surrounded by its blood red magical aura. The blade came up as a mighty hoof came crashing down on Shining’s throat, stealing the breath away from him. Shining Armor could only watch as the pony brought the large rusty blade down with a fatal swing. “No!!!!” he screamed as he jolted up from his bed, feeling a soft pair of hooves trying to restrain him. “Shiny stop! It’s me! It’s your sister!” “Twily?! Twily!” he buried his muzzle into her violet coat, strong tears pouring through his eyes as his entire body trembled. She felt large beads of sweat dripping from his forehead as she saw the sheets soaked in sweat. “Shhh, your sister is here, everything is okay Shiny, it’s okay.” She cooed, trying her best to console her brother, anything to calm him down from his escapade. She grew worried for him, never before has she seen her brother so mentally destroyed. She couldn’t keep herself together as small tears streamed down her cheeks in fear of her brother’s safety and well-being. She stayed in his room all night, keeping him in her hooves, holding him tightly in her embrace, making sure that he was safe. ~~~~~~ The next morning, Shining woke up and ate breakfast. Twilight didn’t even bother asking him about his nightmare, she didn’t want him to go through and explain whatever happened last night. He had been through enough she thought. His coat looked unhealthy, his eyes had large bags under them. He looked terrible and sick. He got up and went outside, leaving his breakfast barely touched, only one or two bites missing. She needed answers from somepony, and she knew only two that could help. “Shining, I’m going out to Canterlot for a bit, princess duties and such. I’ll be leaving you in the care of Fluttershy ok?” “Oh, alright sis. You sure you don’t want me coming with you?” “You stay here, you’re officially off-duty for the month you hear me? I’ll be fine Shiny, and when I return, we can have a little brother-sister bonding like we used to.” He couldn’t help but smile, and he knew she was right. He needed this vacation to calm himself, take time off guard duty, and spending some time with the kindest pony in all of Equestria would be exactly what the doctor ordered. “That sounds perfect sis, have a safe trip.” Twilight boarded her train and departed. Shining clopped back to the tree house to find Fluttershy waiting for him with a picnic basket by her side. “You ready Shining Armor?” she asked. “Uhh yeah, but where are we going?” “Well, whenever I’m not feeling well, a good stroll through the field usually clears my head, and it’s always nice to spend time with the precious critters. I also invited the others to join us, they’ve all missed you so much.” He thought about it for a second and nodded, it would be nice to see the mane six again. Ever since the battle with Tirek, they never really got to spend any time together. So they left and ventured out towards the field to see the rest of gang all gathered on top of a hill just by the lake. “This just might be exactly what I need.” Shining Armor thought, but little does he know, the true nightmare has only begun.